Hydrogen is widely regarded as a promising carbon-free energy carrier for future combustion systems. However, its high chemical reactivity introduces several fundamental and technological challenges. One of the most critical is flashback, in which a premixed flame propagates upstream of its intended stabilization location, potentially compromising both safety and system reliability.

Another distinctive feature of hydrogen flames is their strong tendency to develop cellular structures due to thermo-diffusive instabilities. These structures play a major role in flame dynamics and should be properly accounted for in predictive combustion models used in RANS and LES simulations.

This project focuses on flame propagation in narrow-gap configurations such as Hele-Shaw combustion cells, where a reactive mixture is confined between two parallel plates separated by only a few millimetres. These well-controlled configurations provide an ideal framework for studying thermo-diffusive instabilities and flame dynamics.

Recent experimental studies have established scaling laws for flame cell-size distributions and revealed spontaneous symmetry-breaking phenomena in Hele-Shaw hydrogen flames. These observations have identified the governing parameters controlling flame morphology and instability, providing an excellent foundation for physics-based modeling.

The objective of this postdoctoral project is to develop a predictive theoretical framework based on global linear stability analysis of reactive flows. This approach accounts for the coupled effects of fluid dynamics, chemical reactions, and transport processes while enabling the computation of global modes and bifurcation diagrams.

• identify the physical mechanisms responsible for symmetry breaking;

• explain the observed cell-size distributions;

• develop predictive models applicable to flashback and turbulent combustion modeling.

• Ph.D. in combustion science, fluid mechanics, applied mathematics, or a closely related field;

• Strong background in reactive flows and/or hydrodynamic stability;

• Excellent programming skills and experience with numerical simulations;

• Ability to work independently while interacting effectively within a collaborative research team.

• Experience with linear stability and bifurcation analysis;

• Knowledge of finite-element methods;

• Experience with large-scale linear algebra and eigenvalue solvers;

• Previous experience in experimental combustion or close interaction with experiments.

1 year + 1 year extension

Starting first semester 2027.

M2P2, Aix-Marseille Université, 38 rue Joliot-Curie 13451 Marseille

The candidate will join the TONIC team of the lab M2P2. The project offers close interactions with faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, Ph.D. students, and experimentalists working on combustion, fluid mechanics, and numerical modeling. Depending on the candidate's interests, opportunities for teaching may also be available.

CV + reference letter or contact + cover letter with proposed research directions.

If applicable: Ph.D. defense report and a selection of articles or preprints.